The impressive desert transit station that looks like a massive ship

This undulating, cruise ship-like design is what Zaha Hadid Architects has cooked up for a new transit hub in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

The 20,434-square-foot King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station will serve as an interchange for three metro lines and a monorail. The facility will boast six platforms, over four public floors and underground parking.

Besides connecting the rapid transit lines, the station will also be at the centre of a network of pathways and skybridges. Zaha Hadid Architects says the facility has been designed to “delineate the pedestrian routes within the building, optimize internal circulation and avoid congestion.”

The building’s unique facade will also provide shading from the oppressive desert sun, while the interiors boast a suitably gaudy gold and porcelain motif.